Chapter 24
HOPPER
Our last Christmas event of the season arrived on a bright, sunny day that was cold but clear.
Christmas Market Fest, Noel’s invention, was a big sale at the end of the season for our shop decor, baked goods, and gifts for last-minute shoppers.
Ed had resumed his role as Santa, belting out ho-ho-hos to throngs of people, and Noel had gotten Kevin to volunteer as an adorable gift-wrapping elf, while Maggie ran the shop.
Kevin’s brother, Hunter, had brought his young family to the event, and Toby was currently chatting with Santa while Hunter’s husband, Clark, looked on. He was a slightly geeky but cute history teacher at the high school.
Noel, a few feet away, raised his phone and took a snapshot, then flashed me a thumbs-up. He’d appointed himself marketing director for the day and was taking photos and videos and posting to social media, as well as lending a hand wherever he could.
A couple of days ago, this event would have been a bittersweet ending before Noel left town. Now that he was staying, it was only the beginning.
Literally the beginning. Noel had set us down last night and walked us through the many, many plans he had for the farm in the off-season, starting with investing in better event facilities that would include an attached kitchen.
Maggie, Ed, and I had all exchanged slightly frightened looks as Noel laid out his vision for the future, and yet, we all believed he’d find a way to do it.
Grisold Christmas Tree Farm would be the site for weddings, parties, and other special events year-round—as well as an active tree farm during the holidays.
“Hey, man, great turnout.”
I turned to see Gray. He was with his boyfriend, Emory, and behind him was a group of other men.
“Thanks. It’s all Noel.”
Gray smiled. “I’d forgotten how determined he could be. He always told me he’d leave this place and make a great life for himself.”
“He did that,” I agreed. “And now he’s coming home to make a great life here.”
Gray’s eyebrows shot up. “No kidding? Well, sometimes we need to find ourselves before we can come home.”
“Okay, wise one,” one of the guys with him said, tone dripping with sarcasm.
He wore ripped jeans, a leather jacket, and a beanie over long blond hair that trailed over his shoulders.
Gray half shifted to gesture toward the group. “The sarcastic asshole is my brother Axel.”
I recognized him from the photo Kevin had shown us at the pub a few weeks ago.
Gray continued. “The man beside him is his boyfriend, Sheriff Harvey. The man is a saint to put up with my brother, just saying.”
“Hey,” Axel protested as the rest of the guys laughed in agreement.
“Good to see you again, Sheriff,” I said, nodding respectfully.
He wasn’t in uniform today, but I’d talked to him a few times in his deputy days when we had to deal with kids trying to party out at the farm during the summer months.
“My oldest brother there is Holden. Bossy as fuck. Look out for him.”
Holden rolled his eyes but didn’t argue. He held hands with a much shorter man with pretty green eyes. “His boyfriend is Shiloh, and also the only guy who could put up with him.”
“That’s the truth,” Holden said with good humor, shooting Shiloh a small smile full of love.
“And the pouty one at the back is Bailey. He’s annoyed he’s even here, but we’re forcing him to engage in Christmas cheer.”
Bailey, a guy with messy brown hair, light blue eyes, and a scowl that would make any baby brother proud, flipped Gray the bird.
I laughed. “Thanks for coming out today, guys. I recommend getting into the market and trying to snag some cinnamon rolls before they run out. Noel made some extra baked goods for the event, and they are flying off the shelves. I think everyone wants an easy Christmas breakfast.”
Bailey’s eyes lit up. “I’ll go.”
“Well, that cheered him the fuck up,” Axel said with a snort.
“He’s probably hoping to sneak in some gift shopping while we’re out here,” Holden said. “Kid doesn’t have anything yet.”
Axel grimaced. “You know, I’ll go check on him.” He pointed at Dalton. “You stay here.”
Dalton smirked. “Don’t buy me another pair of socks, Ax, or I’ll decide you don’t really love me!”
Axel waved a hand behind him to acknowledge he’d heard.
Gray glanced at his brothers. “Did the rest of you already shop?”
“Of course,” Holden said. “It’s only two days until Christmas.”
“Yeah, good. Me too.” He rocked on his feet. “I’m just gonna have a look around.”
Holden muttered something about last-minute procrastinators under his breath.
Gray started away, then paused. “Come with me, Em. I got your present already. I’m a good boyfriend.”
Emory chuckled. “I’d love you either way.” He jogged to catch up, and I heard him say, “But I definitely love you more now.”
Gray gave him a quick kiss, and they carried on.
I pointed the rest of the group to the cocoa station—where another volunteer Noel had conscripted was making drinks— and they happily made their way across the grounds. Noel joined me shortly after.
“You’re Mr. Popular today.”
“Hardly,” I said. “Just trying not to stand around like a useless lug. No one wants a tree for me to cut and haul, so…” I shrugged.
“You’d never be useless to me.” Noel tugged my short beard. “You can climb the ladder for purchases off the high shelves, and I’ll enjoy the view.”
I smirked. “You’re teasing me, but I’ll happily do it.”
“Well, let’s—”
“Noel, there you are!” Iola Fletcher cut right over his words. She had her hand locked onto Laurie Ellis’s arm. His husband, Tucker, followed along, looking mildly amused by Iola dragging off his man. “I wanted you to meet Laurie!”
Noel turned, gamely smiling. “Hi. Nice to meet you.”
Laurie shook his hand. “Great event you’ve got going today. I hope to get some of that hot chocolate, and if it’s not too late—”
“We’re not here for small talk,” Iola interrupted. “I brought Laurie out here because your dinner party was so fabulous, Noel.”
Noel looked pleased. “Oh, thank you. I hope I can do it again.”
“Your mother told me you’d decided to stay,” Iola said. “Since you’re a chef, I imagine you’ll want to hold more events.”
“You imagine right,” Noel said with a chuckle. “I’ve got a few ideas. We have to start small, but—”
“Why start small when you can start big?” Iola said, shaking Laurie’s arm. “Tell them what you do, Laurie.”
Tucker laughed behind them. Laurie looked almost embarrassed as he said, “I’m an investor.”
Noel looked alarmed. “Oh, no. We don’t want to sell!”
“Laurie’s not that kind of investor,” Iola said, nudging him again. “Tell them.”
He smiled. “I’m an angel investor. I give businesses funding to expand or improve.”
“Like a loan?”
“Sometimes a loan that is repaid, or sometimes I become a business partner who gets a small percentage of profits. There’s a lot of ways to lay out the specifics, and I tend to tailor it to what works best for everyone.”
“I see. Well, my parents are the owners,” Noel said.
“But you’re the future of this place,” Iola said. “The rest is just paperwork.”
“It’s not a bad idea,” I said. “You did have a lot of plans, Noel.”
He cast me an unsure look. “I did, but the farm belongs to all of us.”
I wrapped an arm around his shoulders and kissed his temple. “Then I guess we all have some talking to do.” I glanced at Laurie. “If you’re actually interested and Iola isn’t twisting your arm?”
Tucker chuckled. “Oh, Iola does her best, but Laurie wouldn’t be here if he wasn’t intrigued.”
“That’s true,” Laurie said. “I love investing in small businesses and communities. I live in Granville, so places close to home always tug at my heartstrings.”
“He invested in the Stag Pub and the Matchmaking Mamas,” Iola said. “I wouldn’t suggest it if I didn’t believe Laurie would do right by you all.”
Noel stepped forward to hug the pushy woman, who, in a way, wasn’t so different from Noel. They both went after what they wanted.
“Thank you for thinking of us, Iola. That is so sweet.”
“Oh, honey, I wouldn’t have done it if your food wasn’t heavenly.” She squished his cheeks. “We want you to stay and make us more beautiful meals.”
I laughed. “Apparently, the secret to a whole town’s love is through their stomach, Noel.”
“Well, then, I’m set,” he said with a big smile. “But there’s really only one heart I want.”
He cast a smile up at me, and I didn’t care that we looked like a couple of sappy fools.
He had my heart for as long as he wanted it. Hopefully, that would be a very long time.